Handpicked Guatemala

On arrival transfer to your hotel for the night.

Enjoy a panoramic tour of Guatemala City where you'll appreciate the main cultural, commercial and financial infrastructure of the city. Discover the most important streets and avenues of the city and its surroundings. Following the city tour you will continue on to the archaeological site of Iximche, a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican archaeological site in the western highlands of Guatemala. Iximche was the capital of the late post-classic Kaqchikel Maya kingdom from 1470 until its abandonment in 1524. Travel by to road to Chichicastenango, a magical town of cobble stone streets and red tile roofs that make it appear isolated from the rest of the country. (B)

Visit the famous and colourful open-air Mayan market at Chichicastenango, which has been a trading centre since pre-Hispanic times. The markets draw not only the K’iche Maya of the surrounding region but vendors from all over Guatemala, representing many of the country’s indigenous groups. You will also visit the 400 year old Church of Santo Tomas, a glorious white-wash edifice which reflects the towns mix of Catholic and indigenous Mayan beliefs. Travel to Quetzaltenango. (B)

Visit the colourful open-air animal market of San Francisco El Alto; the Friday market here is one of the biggest in the country, and the Church of San Andres Xecul. One of the most unique in Guatemala, this brightly painted church is adorned with colourful sculptures and images. Continue through the beautiful valley of Almolonga to Lake Atitlan. One of the highlights of any visit to Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is famous for its natural beauty and colourful Mayan villages where local villagers can be seen in traditional highland clothing. (B)

This morning you'll travel by boat for an excursion to the lakeside village of Santiago Atitlan, where the local women wear a distinctive halo headdress made of ribbon. You'll have the opportunity to see the many arts and crafts that are made by the villagers. Transfer to Antigua, Guatemala’s picturesque colonial jewel. Nestled between three volcanoes, the city perfectly captures the country’s Spanish colonial past. (B)

Enjoy a morning tour of Antigua, the old capital and one of the world’s best conserved colonial cities in Guatemala, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover the history of the city, which is evident in its colonial buildings, churches, monasteries and museums. You'll also visit workshops where silver and jade are crafted, and hand-woven textiles are made. This afternoon, return Guatemala City for the night. (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Flores. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to Ceibal to visit the Mayan Archaeological site which is situated in Sayaxche, near the banks of La Pasion River where you can see crocodiles and exotic birds. The Ceibal Stelae is among the finest and best preserved sculptures of the late Classic period. This is often referred to as the "Mayan Art Gallery" as it has withstood centuries of rain, root penetration and falling trees, due to the hardness of the local stone. One of its most important structures is a round stone, which is considered very rare in the Mesoamerican area. At the conclusion of the tour you'll be transferred to your hotel in Tikal. (B)(L)

This morning you'll visit the archaeological site of Yaxha, located on the north-eastern side of Lake Yaxha. Over 1,400 monuments have been mapped and an excavation program has taken place over the last 10 years, exposing some of its magnificent architecture. Visit ball courts, residential and religious areas like the Maler Group, North Acropolis recently restored, and finally Temple 216, over 90 feet high. Continue your visit to Topoxte on the western side of Lake Yaxha. Its buildings are similar to those of Tulum in Yucatan, and it was inhabited during 900 - 1,200 AD. (B)(L)

Go back more than 2000 years in time with a visit to Tikal National Park. You'll visit the "Q" Complex, the Great Plaza, squared-off with the pyramids of the Grand Jaguar and the Masks, the Palace of the Nobles, and Pyramid IV. This is the highest of the Mayan pyramids, from the top of which a complete view of Tikal and its surrounding jungle can be enjoyed. You'll also visit the Lost World Complex, a group of recently discovered structures from the late pre Classic period, more ancient than Tikal itself. After lunch, visit the museum which houses some of the many pre Colombian art treasures found during the excavation of the site. In the afternoon, transfer to Flores for your flight back to Guatemala City. (B)(L)